Lisa Dinsmore
Lisa has both her BS and MS in Human Nutrition and has been providing nutritional counseling and education to people of all ages since 1991. She worked at the University for 8 years. She was especially grateful to students for the opportunity to learn more about the roles food plays in our lives and to her two young children for daily reminders that eating is fun.
How do you work to balance the different areas of your life?
"Balance is an elusive creature for me. It is something that I am conscious of as a goal I am moving towards, but I think of it as less as a point to reach, more in terms of a pendulum, where I find myself at different point. In some cases I am more obviously out of balance, which reminds me to focus on moving towards balance.
I feel more like I have moments of balance as opposed to arriving at it. It is dynamic, at times of under doing, I need to move towards doing more or different things and at other times of over doing, I need to create more space to move in the other direction.
What balance is to me has changed over my life. Now it is a balance of all of my roles. Balance is recognizing all my aspects as a whole me. I recognize that part of me is a dietitian, mother-mother to a son and to a daughter, partner, sister-older sister to a brother and a sister, daughter, granddaughter, friend, woman.
Trying for balance I sometimes focus on certain parts of who I am such as a mother or sister and then I have reminders in life that other areas need my energy and so I shift towards those.
Balance looks like a circle where the middle is my self and coming out from the center connecting me to others are my other aspects."
How do I work to achieve balance?
"By listening and observing, I listen and observe people around me who I am connected to in my different roles. I listen and observe what their needs are from me. I also listen and observe myself in the center. The pendulum swings based on what others need, but when reserves are low, I need to go back to the center and bring energy back in and move towards balance again.
I notice myself and if I move too far away from myself, I need to go back towards the center. Thich Naht Hanh speaks of "mindful energy" and "habit energy". I know it's helpful for me to be conscious of my "habit energy" and remember I feel better when I use "mindful energy" vs. "habit energy".
I try to spend mindful time/energy with the people I am connected to in my life. The challenge at times is to spend more mindful energy with myself, whenever my reserves are low. I do this by journaling, meditation, yoga, reading books other recommend, and listening to music I love.
I do my best with balancing when I am conscious of myself and my space-my place in the world.
Connection is an important part of balance for me. When I am connected with others I realize our similarities are greater than our differences. The opposite for connection to me is isolation. Isolation is less helpful then connection. Connection helps me feel more balanced and whole."
Joys and challenges of being a woman
"I don't have any other experience than as a woman. I see and experience joys and challenges in all of my roles and I see it as enriching. But I don't think having all of these roles is unique to me as a woman. I believe men experience them as well.
It is enriching and wonderful to experience the various aspects of myself, the many roles.
A joy I experience as a woman is connecting with other women. As I learn about other women, I learn about myself. "
Back
Accredited by: